Pile jacking apparatus



Nov. 14, 1961 J. E. STEELE ETAL PILE JACKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 14, 1958 l@ .Jl

ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1961 J. E. STEELE ErAL PILE JAcxING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1958 23C) 4 l7 l mvENToRs James E. Sfee/e Gabriel M. /frepper Addison L. Evans Jr: BY )aww/M7 ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1961 J. E. STEELE ETAL PILE JACKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheetl 3 Filed May 14, 1958 INVENTORS James E. SIee/e Gabriel M. Kre/:per

Addison L. Evans Jr. l BY HMM/m07 yu ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,008,691 PILE JACKING APPARATUS James E. Steele and Gabriel M. Krepper, Beaumont, and

Addison L. Evans, Jr., Port Arthur, Tex., assignors to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Penn- Sylvania Filed May 14, 1958, Ser. No. 735,150 8 Claims. (Cl. 254-106) This invention relates generally to hydraulic jacking apparatus, and particularly to a step-wise actuated hydraulic jack for extending and driving or retracting a pile within a column in structures of the type used in subaqueous operations such as offshore drilling.

In such or similar operations, it is desirable to anchor the submerged structure firmly to the marine floor to prevent lateral movement or shifting of the structure along the bottom. V-arious means to attain this end have been proposed, and of these, piles are the most suitable in that they may serve several functions, viz., to prevent lateral shifting of the structure along the bot-tom, to support some of the vertical load, Iand to prevent overturning of the structure in hurricanes and the like, all by virtue of principles well known to those familiar with this art. In order to function effectively, these piles should desirably be of substantial length and crosssection. Accordingly, there is required powerful and foolproof means for extending and driving these piles well into the marine floor, a-nd for effectively withdrawi-ng these piles out of the marine floor.

It is one of the objects of our invention to provide positive and foolproof means for driving piles a considerable dist-ance into the marine oor.

It is another object of our invention toprovide positive and foolproof means for extracting piles from the marine oor.

. It is still ano/ther object of our invention to provide a step-wise actuated hydraulic jack for extending and driving and withdrawing piles from the ground, and particularly in association with structures used in subaqueous operations.

Other and further objects will appear during the course of the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals represent like parts in the several views:

FIG. l represents a view in elevation of the hydraulic jack, push shaft and pile, lall located inside the hollow column. A base member is shown at the bottom of the column as typical of many structures used in subaqueous operations.

FIG. 2 represents Ian enlarged section in elevation of the hydraulic jack and push shaft, taken parallel to the two hydraulic cylinders. Y

FIG. 3 represents an enlarged section yin elevation of the hydraulic jack and push shaft, taken at `right angles to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 represents an enlarged section in plan, taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. l, showing the hydraulic cylinders, push shaft, and lower holding pin.

FIG. 5 represents an enlarged section in plan, taken along the line 5-5 o-f FIG. l, showingthe push shaft, yoke, `and upper holding pin.

FIG. 6 represents an enlarged section in plan, taken along the :line 6 6 of FIG. l, showing an operating platform, the push shaft, and the hydraulic pumps operatively associated with the hydraulic cylinders.

Pile 1 is telescopically mounted inside hollow column 2 and extends through base member 3, being suitably guided therein by means not forming part of this invention and therefore not shown. It will be understood that base member 3 is shown herein las typical of many structurcs used in subaqueous operations, and is generally intended to comprise a ballastable pontoon which is floated to location and there submerged to the marine floor, and which may be refloated when desired. lIt should be further understood that this invention is applicable to those structures not having such base member 3.

Push shaft 4 is secured to pile 1, and extends upwardly in column 2. In the upper part of column 2, preferably at an elevation above any anticipated water level, is located :the jacking means comprising hydraulic cylinders 5, movable yoke 6, foundation 7, upper pin 8 slidably mounted in movable yoke 6 and lower pin 9 slidably mounted in foundation 7.

Foundation 7 is secured to column 2. Hydraulic cylinders S are secured at their lower ends to foundation 7, and at their upper ends are secured to column 2 through brackets 10. Motor-driven pumps 11, supported on platform 12 which is secured to column 2, supply hydraulic fluid under pressure through lines `1'3 or 14 to hydraulic cylinders 5, all in the well-known manner. Piston rods 15, operated by pistons 16, extend through movable yoke 6 and are fastened thereto by nuts 17.

Push shaft 4, preferably H-shaped in cross-section, extends through foundation 7, movable yoke 6 and platform 12. Pairs of guide plates 18, with registering perforations 19, are secured -to foundation 7 and movable yoke 6. The guide plates 18 of each pair thereof are spaced to receive the web of push shaft 4.

Air cylinder 20 is secured to movable yoke 6, and is operated by compressed air lines 21 or 22 to extend or retract upper pin 8 through or from perforation 23 of push shaft 4 `and perforations 19 of guide plates 18. Thus, when upper pin 8 is extended through perforation 23 of push shaft 4 and perforations 19 of guide plates 18, push shaft L4 is locked to movable yoke 6, and actuation of hydraulic cylinders 5 will raise or lower push shaft 4 and pile 1. When upper pin S is withdrawn from perforation 23 of push shaft 4, movable yoke 6 is independently movable with respect to push shaft 4 and pile 1.

Similarly, air cylinder 24 is secured to foundation 7, and is operated by compressed air lines 25 or 26 to extend or retract lower pin 9 through or from perforation 23 of push shaft 4 and perforation-is 19 of guide plates 18. Thus, when lower pin 9 is extended through perforation 23 of push shaft 4 and perforations 19 of guide plates 1S, push shaft 4 and pile l `are locked to column 2. And, when lower pin 9 is withdrawn from perforation 23 of push shaft 4, the latter and pile 1 are movable relative to column 2.

The spacing between adjacent perforations 23 in push shaft 4 preferably is equal to the stroke of hydraulic cylinders 5.

The operation of this jack to lower and drive pile 1 into the ground will now be described:

Assume that lower pin 9` is extended through a perforation 23 of push shaft l4. Movable yoke 6 is raised to the top of the stroke of hydraulic cylinders 5 at which point, if the preferred spacing of perforations 23 obtains, upper pin 8 will register with a perforation 23. Upper pin 8 is now extended into said perforation. Assuming at this point that the pile 1 is incapable of supporting its weight, the load is transferred from lower pin 9 to upper pin 8' by raising movable yoke 6 slightly. Lower pin 9 can now be removed from its perforation 23. Movable yoke 6 is then lowered to the bottom of the stroke of hydraulic cylinders 5 at which point lower pin 9 will register with a perforation 23 and is extended therethrough. Assuming at this point that pile 1 is still incapable of supporting its own weight, the load is transferred from upper pin 8 to lower pin 9' by lowering movable yoke 6 slightly. Upper pin 8 can now be removed from its perforation 23. Movable yoke 6 is raised to the top of the stroke of hydraulic cylinders 5, and the foregoing steps are repeated seriatim until the desired penetration is obtained. lt will be noted that when the pile has penetrated the ground sufficiently to support its own weight, it will not be required to raise or lower the movable yoke 6 slightly to transfer the load of the pile from one pin to the other. It will also be noted that the jack operates to drive the pile 1 into the ground against the weight of the structure comprising, inter alia, column l and base member 3.

The operation of extracting pile 1 from the ground is essentially the reverse of what has just been described. Assume that upper pin 8 is extended through a perforation 23, that lower pin l9` is withdrawn from a perforation 23, and that movable yoke 6 is at the bottom of its stroke. Movable yoke 6 is raised to the top of its stroke, carrying with it push shaft 4 and pile 1 and, at this point, lower pin 9 will register with a perforation 23 and is now extended therethrough. Upper pin 8 is retracted from its perforation 23, movable yoke 6 is lowered to the bottom of its stroke, and upper pin 8 is then reinserted in another perforation 23. This sequence is repeated seriatim until the pile is withdrawn. Again, when the pile is incapable of supporting its own weight, it will be required to raise or lower the movable yoke 6 slightly to transfer the load from one pin to the other.

We do not wish to be limited to the exact construction and operation shown and described, -but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof as are embraced within the scope of our invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

We claim:

l. Pile jacking apparatus for extending and driving into the ground or extracting from the ground and withdrawing a pile telescopically mounted inside a hollow column, comprising foundation means secured inside said column, a movable yoke inside said column, first means operatively interposed between said foundation means and said movable yoke to vary the spacing therebetween, a push shaft secured to the pile in registry with the longitudinal axis of said pile and extending through said lfoundation means and movable yoke, a perforated web portion on said push shaft, iirst perforated guide plates secured to said movable yoke on each side of and closely adjacent to the web portion of said push shaft, an upper pin slidably mounted in said movable yoke, second means to extend said upper pin through said web portion of said push shaft and through both of said lirst guide plates or selectively to withdraw said upper pin from said web portion of said push shaft, second perforated guide plates secured to said foundation means on each side of and closely adjacent to the web portion of said push shaft, a lower pin slidably mounted in said foundation means, and third means to extend said lower pin through the web portion of said push shaft and through both of said second guide plates or selectively to withdraw said lower pin from said web portion of said push shaft.

2. Apparatus as in claim l, said lower pin being slidably mounted in said foundation means at a fixed elevation inside said column.

3. Pile jacking apparatus for extending and driving into the ground or extracting from the ground and withdrawing a pile telescopically mounted inside a hollow column, comprising foundation means secured inside said column, a movable yoke inside said column, first means operatively interposed between said foundation means and said movable yoke to vary the spacing therebetween, a push shaft secured to the pile in registry with the longitudinal axis of said pile and extending through said foundation means and movable yoke, a central perforated web portion and edge ange portions on said push shaft, first perforated guide plates secured to said movable yoke and extending between said edge flange portions closely adjacent to each side of said central web portion, an upper pin slidably mounted in said movable yoke, second means to extend said upper pin through said central web portion of said push shaft and through both of said rst guide plates or selectively to withdraw said upper pin from said central web portion of said push shaft, second perforated guide plates secured to said foundation means and extending between said edge flange portions closely adjacent to each side of said central web portion, a lower pin slidably mounted in said foundation means, and third means to extend said lower pin through said central web portion of said push shaft and through both of said second guide plates or selectively to withdraw said upper pin from said central web portion of said push shaft.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3, said lower pin being slidably mounted in said foundation means at a fixed elevation in said column.

5. Pile jacking apparatus for extending and driving into the ground or extracting from the ground and withdrawing a pile telescopically mounted inside a hollow column, comprising foundation means secured inside said column, a movable yoke inside said column, iirst means operatively interposed between said foundation means and said movable yoke to vary the spacing therebetween, a push shaft secured to` the pile in registry with the longitudinal axis of said pile and extending through said foundation means and movable yoke, a perforated web portion and ange portions on said push shaft, first perforated guide plates secured to said movable yoke on each side of and closely adjacent to the web portion of said push shaft and extending between the iiange portions of said push shaft, only one upper pin slidably mounted in said movable yoke, second means to extend said upper pin through said web portion of said push shaft and through both of said first guide plates or selectively to withdraw said upper pin from said web portion of said push shaft, second perforated guide plates -secured to said foundation means on each side of and closely adjacent to the web portion of said push shaft and extending between the flange portions of said push shaft, only one lower pin slidably mounted in said foundation means, and third means to extend said lower pin through the web portion of said push shaft and through both of -said second guide plates or selectively to withdraw said lower pin from said web portion of said push shaft.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, said lower pin being slidably mounted in said foundation means at a fixed elevation in said column.

7. Pile jacking apparatus for extending and driving `into the ground or `extracting from the ground and withdrawing a pile, comprising foundation means, a movable yoke, first means operatively interposed between said foundation means and said ymovable yoke to` vary the spacing therebetween, a push shaft secured to the pile in registry with the longitudinal axis of said pile .and extending through said foundation means and movable yoke, a perforated web portion and flange portions on said push shaft, lirst perforated guide plates secured to said movable yoke and extending between said ange portions closely adjacent to each side of said web portion; a iirst pin slidably mounted in said movable yoke, second means to extend said lfirst pin through said web portion of said push shaft and through both of said iirst perforated gnide plates or selectively to withdraw said first pin from said web portion of said push shaft, second perforated guide plates secured to said foundation means and extending between said ange portions closely adjacent to each side of said web portion, a second pin slidably mounted in said foundation means, and third means to extend said second pin through said web portion of said push shaft and through both of said second perforaated guide plates or selectively to withdraw said second pin from said web portion of said push shaft.

8. Pile jacking apparatus for extending and driving into the -ground or extracting from the ground and withdrawing a pile, comprising foundation means, a movable yoke, first means operatively interposed between said foundation means and said movable yoke to vary the spacing therebetween, a push shaft secured to the pile in lregistry with the longitudinal 'axis of said pile and eX- tending through said foundation means and movable yoke, a perfo-rated Web portion and flange portions on said push shaft, ,fu'st perforated guide plates secured to said movable yoke on each side of and closely adjacent to the Web portion of said push shaft and extending between said flange portions of said push shaft, only one rst pin slidably mounted in said movable yoke, second means to extend said rst pin through said Web portion lof said push shaft and through both of said rst perforated guide plates or selectively to withdraw Asaid first pin from said web portion of said push shaft, second perforated guide plates secured to said foundation means on each side of and closely adjacent to the web portion of said push shaft and extending between said ange portions of said push shaft, only one second pin slidably mounted in said foundation means, and third means to extend said second pin through the web portion of said 6 push shaft and through both of said second guide plates UNITED STATES PATENTS 739,654 Davison Sept. 22, 1903 1,063,156 `Cohen et al. May 27, 1913 2,775,869 Pointer Ian. 1, 1957 2,786,650 Bottorl Mar. 26, 1957 2,822,670 Suderow Feb. 11, 1958 2,839,164 Roussel June 17, 1958 2,908,142 Suderow Oct. 13, 1959 2,932,486 Suderow Apr. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,155,645 ,France Dec. 2, 1957 

